boatswain

A boatswain (often shortened to bos'n or bosun) is a senior crew member in a ship's deck department. On traditional sailing ships, the boatswain was responsible for the hull, rigging, and deck equipment, and for supervising the deck crew. In modern vessels, the role focuses on deck operations, maintenance, safety, and the organization of the deck crew during routine duties, mooring, and vessel handling.

Etymology: The term boatswain has long been part of English maritime usage, with the contracted forms bos'n or bosun widely used in nautical speech. The precise historical origin of the word is uncertain, but it has remained a standard naval and merchant terminology for centuries.

Duties: The boatswain leads deck operations and oversees maintenance of rigging, lines, anchors, moorings, hull, and deck equipment. They coordinate with the officer of the deck, issue orders to the deck crew, and supervise tasks such as painting, cleaning, lashings, and gangway handling. On sailing ships, they also supervise sails and running rigging; on modern ships, they oversee safety gear, small boats, and general seamanship. In many navies and merchant fleets, the boatswain’s mate is a petty officer who performs similar duties and may command a small team responsible for mooring, anchor detail, and boat handling.

Equipment and signaling: The boatswain’s whistle (also called the bosun’s pipe) is a traditional signaling instrument used to issue commands on deck. The role remains essential for coordinating deck operations, ensuring safety, and maintaining the ship’s readiness for routine and emergency tasks.